Laying in the run

[SuzyB]

I posted a couple of weeks agothat Bluebell, my Bluebell had started laying, with teeny weeny eggs. Turned out not to be her but one of my ex batts going through a funny phase (now back to normal). Anyway, Bluebell did manage to produce her very first egg this week, a little but perfectly formed egg, but in the run, not the nesting box. She's done very well since, we've had 4 more from her, but all in either the main run or the run of the coop.

All the other girls lay happily in the nesting box, is there anything I can do that would encourage Bluebell to do the same? Twice Ive had to dig up her egg from the run where its been covered from a dust bath, its like she just does them where ever she's standing at the time. Could it be that there's someone in the box when she needs to go, would that put her off do you think? The nesting box fits two very easily, Anyone with any ideas?

[walldanzig]

One of mine used to do this it was because the nest box was full so she used to lay where they where standing I put another nest box in and the problem was solved

[frias]

I have 2 nest boxes between 6 hens although only 3 are laying at the moment. None of my girls would lay in a nest box if there's already someone is residence. If one wants to lay in a nestbox someone else is in, the whole neighbourhood knows about it. I do sometimes have to go out and point out to the noisy one that she can always lay in the other box. Could you supply another nest box or divide the one you have? Some hens are not too fussy about privacy but some like to be on their own. How about some china or other fake eggs to give her a clue. Sometimes the ex-batts take a while to know what a next box is but I don't know if this is usual with other hens.

[RichmondHens]

All hens are different - some will lay happily with other hens (some of mine will get on top of another if they want to) and others refuse to go in if there is another there, or will keep others out if they are first in. Sounds like she may be one who likes laying on her own so perhaps a free standing nest box in the run may be helpful.

[MaureenHall]

4 nest boxes between 10 (at the moment) ex-batts and they all always want to use the same one!! Could be a different one every day, but all the eggs are in the same one

[Glutton4...]

I now have 6 nest-boxes between 21 'Laydees' (I read somewhere 1 nest-box per 4 hens is ideal?) They still prefer the two original boxes, even though they've been moved to allow for the new ones!

It amazes me that they'll stand outside an occupied nest-box, getting all agitated when there's an empty one next-door!

[di]

Ours also all lay in the same box(ten of them!),despite having a choice.
I wonder if maybe you offer her a box outside & gradually move it closer to the coop,before finally putting it in the coop might work?
Good Luck.

[SuzyB]

Thank you for all the advice, I did wonder about putting another nesting box in, then this morning went out to say good morning to them and there she was, tucked in the back of nesting box with an agitated Snowdrop stood over her having just laid her egg. I think Bluebell must have thought 'right, Im not getting up this morning til my egg is ready to make sure I get best spot'. A little while later she came out and there we go, first time of collecting 4 eggs in one go, from the same spot, Im very happy this morning

[frias]

Yeh. That's good. Are they sleeping in the nest box by any chance?

[SuzyB]

The ex batts used to sleep there, then when the newbies were introduced, they'd all pile in, now 4 of them sleep in the house, and first to bed gets the nesting box

[frias]

Mine used to until I blocked off the nest box at night to keep it clean and also to ensure girls knew this was for laying not sleeping. None of mine sleep there now. If they lay very early before you have time to unblock another way to discourage sleeping in nest box is to wait until all settled at night then move culprit. They soon get the message.

[kirsty b]

All hens are different - some will lay happily with other hens (some of mine will get on top of another if they want to) and others refuse to go in if there is another there, or will keep others out if they are first in. Sounds like she may be one who likes laying on her own so perhaps a free standing nest box in the run may be helpful.

Mine climb on top of each other too sometimes. I have 2 boxes for 14, but added a third today cos I ahve another broody who has just refused to go in the broody coop. The others are largely ignoring her, so I'll move her if the eggs she is gong to sit hatch.
Do have occasional eggs in run but that is rare now, and not as many as I did when I first got the girls.